The Tivoli Theatre, Broadmead, Bristol

Formerly - The Star Music Hall

The Tivoli Theatre, Bristol originally opened
as the Star Music Hall in 1870. It was very small, seating only 300 people and ran as such until 1896 when it was rebuilt after a fire.

It was owned by a real showman, Mr E.'Teddy' Leon, who was described
as 'a smart gentleman who usually wore a frock coat and a very shiny
box hat'. He also owned the Empire in Old Market and ran nine dentistry businesses in South Wales and the
West. He had been a stage performer by the name of Edward Aubrey Goodman
and had over twenty-five years' experience in the business. The Tivoli
and the Empire ran programmes jointly, the artists would finish their
act in one Theatre and rush off to the next, still in full make-up.

The Tivoli was probably one of the first Theatres in Bristol to show
moving pictures, they were first shown there in 1896,
although only for a few weeks as films were considered at the time to
be just another novelty act.

The Tivoli became a full time Cinema around 1912,
with a grand reopening that included performances on screen and off
by 'Montana Joe', a world-famous cowboy actor, who gave three lectures
a day dressed in full cowboy gear. The cinema only survived for four
years however.

The building was demolished in 1952.

Some of the above information was kindly sent in by Dave Baxter.

If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.